An initiative with the University of Georgia will help Turn Back the Block in its mission to revitalize Augusta’s historic Harrisburg district.
The organization is one of the newest participants in the University of Georgia’s Connected Resilient Communities program, and Turn Back the Block’s executive director calls it a “wonderful opportunity.”
“They partner with three in a year. They’ve never partnered with a non-profit, and they’ve never partnered with one on urban revitalization,” said Ashley Brown, who felt her organization would qualify for the selective program despite that, in a recent interview.
Facilitated by the UGA Archway Partnership, the Connected Resilient Communities program “helps Georgia communities tap into the resources and expertise at UGA to address local issues and become more attractive to economic development. CRC communities partner with experts from UGA to complete three projects, over 12-18 months, designed to increase resiliency,” according to a news release.
When deciding what those projects might look like, Brown didn’t simply turn to the members of the organization’s board of directors, but she and volunteers went into the neighborhood and knocked on doors to ask residents for their input as well as insight on how they feel about where they live.
Although there have been some incidents of crime, most residents feel they live in a good neighborhood and are proud of its history, she said.
One of the three projects on the list is the Vernon Forrest Park on Telfair Street.
While the equipment at the park is good, it’s an underutilized space, and she wanted to find out why, Brown said.
“There’s not a lot of shade,” she said. “It has tennis courts and people don’t play tennis anymore.”
One suggestion is to add basketball courts and build gazebos to provide shade and a place for people to gather.
The park suggestions would be in partnership with the City of Augusta.
Another project would include the beautification with safety enhancements of two main streets within the district. Landscaping, improved lighting and the addition of sidewalks on Battle Row and Telfair Street from Milledge Road to Eve Street are among the items on that list.
Brown said sidewalks would be especially beneficial to a few of the neighborhood residents who are wheelchair-bound and unable to safely maneuver.
And the third item would be a 10 to 15-year plan to forecast areas of growth in the neighborhood. Using the expertise of the University of Georgia would benefit the entire Harrisburg area which extends toward the medical district and includes the Hub for Community Innovation.
“The whole point of this project we are so passionate about what we are doing, but we can’t do it alone,” she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
